Show case construction



Feb. 19, 1935. E. WALTERS snow CASE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 5, 1934 EqiPatented Feb. 19, 1935 PATENT O FICE.

1,991,992; SHOWCASE CONSTRUCTION J Edward Walters, ToIed0, Ohio,assignor to Toledo Mirror Paint & GlassCompany, Toledo, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application February 5, 1934, Serial No. 709,744

6 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to show case structures, but particularly to-showcases having glass panels, and an objectis to produce a simple and elficient' casev which can be' readily set up or taken 5, down; which issturdy andreliable in construction,

and isfprovided with the novelfeatures herein after described,facilitating connecting of the panels together without the use ofsecuring devices which extend through the panels themselves, therebyproviding a reliable construction which militates against breakage andinsures an. exceptionally satisfactory assembly.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear, and, for purposesof illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the inventionis shown on the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a showcase;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3is a perspective view showing the channel devices for securingtogether adjoining panels;

Figure 4; is a perspective view of one end portion of a panel of the endportion of a channel;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation-on the line 55 of Figure 1; r

Figure 6' is a sectional elevation showing the securing meansfor thelowerendportion' of the panels; I

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing adjacent panels assembled withthe top or covering plate inplace;

Figure 8 is a perspectiveview ofa portionof the rear end of the caseshowing-the manner in which the sliding pahels'are mounted {and Figure 9is a perspectivevie'w of an e'ndportion of one of the end panels.

The illustrated embodiment of the'in'vention comprises a showcase whichismounted on a suitable base 10, which may be of wood, or any suitablematerial, which Supports the case and which is provided with end panels11, a frontpanel 12, sliding rear panels 13 and l l', and a top orcovering panel 15. Each- 0f the panels is of glass, and is supportedin asubstantially U shaped metallic channellfi with which'ears l lare'formed integrally, andproject at substantially right angles toreceive screws 18 for securing the ears to the support 10. Preferably,the ears 17 are formed by cutting out the metal from the channel memberand bending the same to the desired position. Any suitable number ofears 17 may be employed as desired.

Embracing the upper edges of the side panel 12 is a sheet metal channelmember 19 of substantially U-shaped construction. The panel member 19 isof approximately the same length as the panel12, and opposite endportions of the, member 19 are bent inwardly to provide an inwardlyextending lip 20, which projects beyond the opposite side of the: panel19. The lip 20 pro vides a finished appearance to the assembly andcovers the upper edge portion of the panel 12. In the rear or innerflange of the channel member 19 is formed a slot 21, and the panel 12 inthe region of the slot 21 is cut away, as indicated at 22, for a purposehereinafter described. Providedwithin-the top of the channel 19 is anopening 23- to receive a screw,- as will hereinafter be explained. Itwill be understood that opposite ends of the channel were similarlyformed.

Embracing the upper edge portion of each of the end panels or plates 11is a 0112111118124, and the panel at the end portions of the channel iscut away slightly, as indicated at 25. The metalat the end portions ofthe channel 24 is bent downwardly, asindicated at 26, over the cut-awayportion 25, and then projects outwardly at substantially right angles toprovide a tongue 27 which lies in a, plane substantially parallel withtheuppersurface of the channel 24. The tongue 27 is adapted to enter theslot 21 in the channel 19, and, asshown in Figure 5, a screw 28 extendsthrough the .opening 23 in the channel 19 and screws into an opening 29in a. tongue 27, the opening 29 being screw-threaded to receive thescrew 28. It will thus be seen that the parts can be readily andconveniently fastened together, and, contrary to the usual practice, itis not necessary to insert fastening devices through holes out in theglass panels, these being decidedly unsatisfactory since they materiallyweaken the assembly;

Secured by screws 30 to therear end of the channel 24 is a member 31'having an outwardly projecting tongue 32. The member 31 is also fastenedto-a channel member 33, which embraces the rear edgeiporticn ofitherespective end panel 11. The'tong-ue' 3215. similar to the tongue 27 inthat it is adapted to project through a slot 34 formed by a channel 35,which receives a sliding panel l3 providing a door for the case;Theichannel 35' has arearwardly projecting: flange '36, which overlaps avertically disposed channel 37 for the panel 13, and connects to achannel 38 for the panel door 14. It is to be understood that the loweredges of the panels 13 and 14 rest in the lower supporting channel 16,and are free to slide horizontally in the usual manner. Opposed edges ofthe top or covering panel 15 are embraced by channel members 39, theends of which are provided with tongues 40, which are bent over theadjacent edge of the panel. Integral with each of the channel members 39are ears 41, which are cut out similar to the ears 17 above described.The ears 41 extend vertically downward, and are secured by screws 42 tothe adjacent channel members 24.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided ashow case which can readily and conveniently be put together by aninexperienced person without the use of special tools or equipment. Notonly is the assembly sturdy and reliable and one that will not beeffected by warpage of the support, but, in addition, one which presentsa pleasing, attractive and finished appearance. It will be furtherunderstood that the above described channel members for embracing theglass panels can be made from sheet metal stampings, very inexpensivelyso that the cost of the structure can be kept low.

It is to be understood that'numerous changes in details of construction,arrangement and choice of materials may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appendedclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A show case construction having a pair of upwardly disposed panelsarranged at substantially right angles to each other and means forsecuring said panels in place, said securing means comprising channelmembers embracing the upper edges of said panels, the end portion of onechannel member extending downwardly over the end of the respective paneland then outwardly to provide a tongue, the adjacent channel memberhaving a slot in one side to receive said tongue and the panel in theregion of said slot being broken away to accommodate said tongue, and afastener insertable from the outside engaging said adjacent channelmember and tongue for securing said parts together.

2. A show case construction having a pairof upwardly disposed panelsarranged at substantially right angles to each other and means forsecuring said panels in place, said securing means comprising channelmembers embracing the upper edges of said panels, the end portion of onechannel member extending downwardly over the end of the respective paneland then outwardly to provide a tongue, the adjacent channel memberhaving aslot in one side to receive said tongue and the panel in theregion of said slot being broken away to accommodate said tongue, afastener insertable from the outside engaging said adjacent channelmember and tongue for securing said parts together, and a lip on saidadjacent member covering the end thereof and extending in overlappingrelation to the other channel member.

3. A show case construction having a pair of upwardly disposed panelsarranged at substantially right angles to each other and means forsecuring said panels in place, said securing means comprising channelmembers embracing the upper edges of said panels, the end portion of onechannel member extending downwardly over the end of the respective paneland then outwardly to provide a tongue, the adjacent channel memberhaving a slot in one side to receive said tongue and the panel in theregion of said slot being broken away to accommodate said tongue, afastener insertable from the outside engaging said adjacent channelmember and tongue for securing said parts together, a lip on saidadjacent member covering, the end thereof and extending in overlappingrelation to the other channel member, a panel for the for the top of thecase, a channel member embracing opposite ends respectively of said toppanel, an car on said last channel member projecting downwardlytherefrom, and means to secure said ear to a subjacent channel member. r

. 4. A show case construction having a pair of upwardly disposed panelsarranged at substantially right angles to each other and means forsecuring said panels in place, said securing means comprising channelmembers embracing the upper edges of said panels, the end portion of onechannel member extending downwardly over the end of the respective paneland then outwardly to provide a tongue, the adjacent channel memberhaving a slot in one side to receive said tongue and the panel in theregion of said slot being broken away to accommodate said tongue, afastener insertable from the outside engaging said adjacent channelmember and tongue for securing said parts together, a lip on saidadjacent member covering the endthereof and extending in overlappingrelation to the other channel member, a channel member embracing thelower ends respectively of each panel, an ear integral with each of saidlast channel members, and means for securing said ears to a support.

5. A show case construction having a pair of upwardly disposed panelsarranged at substantially right angles to each other and means forsecuring said panels in place, said securing means comprising channelmembers embracing the upper edges of said panels, the end portion of onechannel member extending downwardly over the end of the respective paneland then outwardly to provide a tongue, the adjacent channel memberhaving a slot in one side to receive said tongue, a fastener insertablefrom the outside engaging said adjacentchannel member and tongue forsecuring said parts together, and a screw insertable from the outsidethrough said adjacent channel member and in screw threaded engagementwith said tongue.

6. A show case construction having a pair of upwardly disposed panelsarranged at substantially right angles to each other and means forsecuring said panels in place, said securing means comprising members ofsheet material engaging the upper edges of said panels, an outwardlyextending tongue part on the end portion of one member, a part of theadjacent member being apertured to receive said tongue part, one of saidparts having an ofiset bent to accommodate the other part, and adetachable fastener for securing said parts together. I

EDWARD WALTERS.

